ABU DHABI is attracting growing investment from global food groups who are setting up plants in the emirate’s new industrial zone as they tap rising consumer demand in neighbouring Gulf countries, a top official involved in the project said.

Abu Dhabi is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure, real estate and tourism to diversify its economy beyond oil. Among the projects under development is a 418 sq km industrial zone called Kizad which is targeting investors in industries including steel, glass, engineered metal products as well as food.

Kizad already has agreements with Brazil’s BRF SA, the world’s largest chicken exporter, for a $150 million processing plant, and Abu Dhabi’s National Food Products Company (NFPC) for a 1.5 billion dirhams ($408.39 million) facility, Kizad’s chief executive Khaled Salmeen told Reuters.